This years World Championships was held in the “Palace of
Sports” Minsk a tremendous venue with 3 International Mat areas. One for Women’s
Sambo, one for Men’s Sambo and one for Combat Sambo, plus all the paraphernalia
linked to a competition of this magnitude i.e. flags, banners, TV camera’s,
large screens etc., plus plenty of tiered seating not the most comfortable I
might add.

This years tournament attracted 57 countries and as
expected was dominated by Eastern Block countries, Russia being the most
dominant, the standard was the highest I have ever seen. Although the countries
did not medal a great deal the standard from them was a lot higher, our own GB
Team was the best we have had in the last 20 years.

The British team consisted of :

Sambo Team:

U57k Bradley Belsey
England,

U62k Casey Belsey
England,

U68k Ashley Costa
England Cancelled due to illness

U74k Reece
Armstrong Scotland

U82k Jamie Marzetti
England,

U100k Barry Gibson
England,

O100k Matthew
Clempner England

Combat
Sambo Team:

U82k
Ryan Trebitcock,

U100k Barry Gibson England

O100k Ben Whitehead England

Officials:

Martin Clarke BSF
President

Robin Hyslop BSF Chairman,

John Clarke National Sambo Coach,

Colin Carrott Combat Sambo Coach,

Russell Dodds Press Officer

John Sharpe BSF Treasurer

The reason why we
had a quality team was that FIAS paid our accommodation so the cost was
basically just airfare; this made a big difference on which the BSF selected. In
previous years it was who could afford to go not necessarily the best, the BSF
had decided at the last AGM that only fighters who were capable of competing in
such an event would be allowed to go even
if it
that meant not sending any players what so ever. It was agreed sending people
who could be beaten in a very few minutes would not do them any good and would
not do the BSF any good; it would be just a demoralising occasion. Yet with
financial backing we can produce good Sambo/Sombo players in GB. Yet we must all
realise the we will not get any government funding now or in the foreseeable
future., I have been told that funding will be only for Olympic sports and that
has been cut by 25%. I looked up see how many Sports are recognised UKSport it
was 99, according to Wikipedia there are 28 Summer Olympic Sports. Should we
concentrate just on Olympic Sports? Should Sport be just judged on Olympic
Medals? Each individual and clubs must organise there own funding, John Clarke
is a prime example, for his Warriors Grappling Academy he organised Race Nights
plus other funding events, he got a local Indian Restaurant to sponsors some
Jacket, Keith Costa collects waste paper. Instead of moaning about funding we
must use this as opportunity to get our members involved but go for quality not
quantity.

So on to the
performance of the British Team.

Matthew Clempner
Bronze Over 100 Kilo

This was our first
World medal in 22 years and Matthews’s performance was outstanding and his win
gained great applause from the audience and very much form the FIAS Committee
members. He follows his father’s footsteps big Matthew won Bronze in the same
weight in 1989.

Matt had 4 fights,
first was up against a very experience Frenchman, Matt dispensed with him with
some fine throws finishing with an arm lock, next to be arm lock was the Latvian
in under 20 seconds. So his bout against Iliadis a member of the famous Greek
family of Judoka was to be whether he would make the final. The Greek must have
weighed at least 30 kilos more the Matt but that did not worry him he took the
fight to him charging like a Bull. Halfway through the match there was no score
except for two unjustified passive warnings for Matt, to break the impasse Matt
attempted a Supplex which nearly succeeded but he could not turn his opponent
and Matt landed first giving the Greek 2 points and this was how the match
finished with just 2 points to Nil. This disappointment did not deter Matt from
getting a resounding win against the Uzbek 4 points with a hold 6 points with
throws and to make sure with only seconds left he got a submission with an arm
lock. A tremendous victory for Matt and GB as for the Greek he lost 12 points to
nil against the Belarusian.

Our First Combat
Sambo player was Barry Gibson, Combat Sambo is still a new domain for GB and
although we have had a few competitors in this event none really made and impact
maybe with the exception of Tom Richardson. Mainly because of the fact that our
Combat Sambo players still rely on striking rather then throws but as per usual
in this event 90% of wins are with throws, hold downs and submissions.
Barry
was different a very experienced Judo Player who could punch and kick, this
showed in his fight with the. The Guy from Kazakhstan came in with a kick Barry
grabbed it and threw him for a 4 points with an inner reap (Judoka O Uchi Gari)
he then got another point for his opponent fleeing the area . Then things
started to go wrong, Barry’s opponent was on the floor and he was in between the
legs punching him. Some how his opponent got a Triangle Strangle on him and
gained a submission. Barry said afterwards he realise that the triangle was
going on but thought he could have punched his way out of it. Analysing the
mistake some suggested he could have stood up but unlike Judo just standing does
not stop the strangle. I believe this was a mistake if that had not happen Barry
would have won but that is the nature of Combat Sambo make a mistake and you let
your opponent in. Barry I believe can be a medal winner.

Our two other
fighters Ben Whitehead and Ryan
Trebitcock both
were arm locked. Ben an experienced Cage
Fighter and World Pankration Silver medalist said afterwards it was the jacket
Wrestling side that was his weakness and vowed to train more in that aspect. Ben
is a big fit powerful lad and you will see more of him if he can keep of his
phone (in joke) Ryan at just 20 is recent convert to the sport and is a powerful
boxer give him a bit more experience and there is another potential medal
winner.

Our Sombo players
also fought well with Jamie Marzetti and Bradley Belsey only losing on points,
Casey Belsey and Reece Armstrong both lost but at least had two fights. In the
Worlds you only have a chance of winning a Bronze if you lose to a finalist

The support staff
of the BSF did a great job with John Clarke watching out for the Sombo Players
and Colin Carrott Combat Sambo, Russell Dodds was our back up man . Official
Representation was Martin Clarke BSF President and Robin Hyslop BSF Chairman

A BSF Master of
Sombo is only awarded to people who have made significant contribution to Sombo
in Great Britain with only 4 people in the history of the British Sombo
Federation receiving this award they are John Clarke, Paul Sawyer, Colin Carrott
and Robin Hyslop. Matthew received the award for winning the World Bronze and
putting British Sombo back on the International Medal Chart.

So what of the
future well the BSF and its member associations have a lot planned starting in
March with the All England
Open to be held in Sittingbourne. On the International scene this can be a
little bit more difficult as cost will be the big deterrent if FIAS does not
support us. European Championships will be in Milan Italy in May and the BSF
Committee have decided the team for Sombo will be the ones we took to the Worlds
if they can afford it. With regard to the Combat Sambo it is hoped that Alan
Clarkin can arrange a trials in Burnley in early April for the European, World
Combat Games and World Championships next year although all potential GB players
may have to pay there own way hence why we are to pick a team early so they have
chance to raise the money. For Sombo players the trials will be the British Open
to be held beginning of May in Bedford. There will also be the Dutch Open in
March and the Paris Tournament in May.

This years World Championships was held in the “Palace of
Sports” Minsk a tremendous venue with 3 International Mat areas. One for Women’s
Sambo, one for Men’s Sambo and one for Combat Sambo, plus all the paraphernalia
linked to a competition of this magnitude i.e. flags, banners, TV camera’s,
large screens etc., plus plenty of tiered seating not the most comfortable I
might add.

This years tournament attracted 57 countries and as
expected was dominated by Eastern Block countries, Russia being the most
dominant, the standard was the highest I have ever seen. Although the countries
did not medal a great deal the standard from them was a lot higher, our own GB
Team was the best we have had in the last 20 years.

The British team consisted of :

Sambo Team:

U57k Bradley Belsey England,

U62k Casey Belsey England,

U68k Ashley Costa England Cancelled
due to illness

U74k Reece Armstrong Scotland

U82k Jamie Marzetti England,

U100k Barry Gibson England,

O100k Matthew Clempner England

Combat Sambo Team:

U82k
Ryan Trebitcock,

U100k Barry Gibson
England

O100k Ben Whitehead
England

Officials:

Martin Clarke BSF President

Robin Hyslop BSF Chairman,

John Clarke National Sambo Coach,

Colin Carrott Combat Sambo Coach,

Russell Dodds Press Officer

John Sharpe BSF Treasurer

The reason why we had a quality team was that FIAS paid our
accommodation so the cost was basically just airfare; this made a big difference
on which the BSF selected. In previous years it was who could afford to go not
necessarily the best, the BSF had decided at the last AGM that only fighters who
were capable of competing in such an event would be allowed to go even if it
that meant not sending any players what so ever. It was agreed sending people
who could be beaten in a very few minutes would not do them any good and would
not do the BSF any good; it would be just a demoralising occasion. Yet with
financial backing we can produce good Sambo/Sombo players in GB. Yet we must all
realise the we will not get any government funding now or in the foreseeable
future., I have been told that funding will be only for Olympic sports and that
has been cut by 25%. I looked up see how many Sports are recognised UKSport it
was 99, according to Wikipedia there are 28 Summer Olympic Sports. Should we
concentrate just on Olympic Sports? Should Sport be just judged on Olympic
Medals? Each individual and clubs must organise there own funding, John Clarke
is a prime example, for his Warriors Grappling Academy he organised Race Nights
plus other funding events, he got a local Indian Restaurant to sponsors some
Jacket, Keith Costa collects waste paper. Instead of moaning about funding we
must use this as opportunity to get our members involved but go for quality not
quantity.

So on to the performance of the British Team.

Matthew Clempner Bronze Over 100 Kilo

This was our first World medal in 22 years and Matthews’s
performance was outstanding and his win gained great applause from the audience
and very much form the FIAS Committee members. He follows his father’s footsteps
big Matthew won Bronze in the same weight in 1989.

Matt had 4 fights, first was up against a very experience
Frenchman, Matt dispensed with him with some fine throws finishing with an arm
lock, next to be arm lock was the Latvian in under 20 seconds. So his bout
against Iliadis a member of the famous Greek family of Judoka was to be whether
he would make the final. The Greek must have weighed at least 30 kilos more the
Matt but that did not worry him he took the fight to him charging like a Bull.
Halfway through the match there was no score except for two unjustified passive
warnings for Matt, to break the impasse Matt attempted a Supplex which nearly
succeeded but he could not turn his opponent and Matt landed first giving the
Greek 2 points and this was how the match finished with just 2 points to Nil.
This disappointment did not deter Matt from getting a resounding win against the
Uzbek 4 points with a hold 6 points with throws and to make sure with only
seconds left he got a submission with an arm lock. A tremendous victory for Matt
and GB as for the Greek he lost 12 points to nil against the Belarusian.

Our First Combat Sambo player was Barry Gibson, Combat
Sambo is still a new domain for GB and although we have had a few competitors in
this event none really made and impact maybe with the exception of Tom
Richardson. Mainly because of the fact that our Combat Sambo players still rely
on striking rather then throws but as per usual in this event 90% of wins are
with throws, hold downs and submissions. Barry was different a very experienced
Judo Player who could punch and kick, this showed in his fight with the. The Guy
from Kazakhstan came in with a kick Barry grabbed it and threw him for a 4
points with an inner reap (Judoka O Uchi Gari) he then got another point for his
opponent fleeing the area . Then things started to go wrong, Barry’s opponent
was on the floor and he was in between the legs punching him. Some how his
opponent got a Triangle Strangle on him and gained a submission. Barry said
afterwards he realise that the triangle was going on but thought he could have
punched his way out of it. Analysing the mistake some suggested he could have
stood up but unlike Judo just standing does not stop the strangle. I believe
this was a mistake if that had not happen Barry would have won but that is the
nature of Combat Sambo make a mistake and you let your opponent in. Barry I
believe can be a medal winner.

Our two other fighters Ben Whitehead and Ryan
Trebitcock both
were arm locked. Ben an experienced Cage Fighter and World Pankration Silver
medalist said afterwards it was the jacket Wrestling side that was his weakness
and vowed to train more in that aspect. Ben is a big fit powerful lad and you
will see more of him if he can keep of his phone (in joke) Ryan at just 20 is
recent convert to the sport and is a powerful boxer give him a bit more
experience and there is another potential medal winner.

Our Sombo players
also fought well with Jamie Marzetti and Bradley Belsey only losing on points,
Casey Belsey and Reece Armstrong both lost but at least had two fights. In the
Worlds you only have a chance of winning a Bronze if you lose to a finalist

The support staff
of the BSF did a great job with John Clarke watching out for the Sombo Players
and Colin Carrott Combat Sambo, Russell Dodds was our back up man . Official
Representation was Martin Clarke BSF President and Robin Hyslop BSF Chairman

A BSF Master of Sombo is only awarded to people who have
made significant contribution to Sombo in Great Britain with only 4 people in
the history of the British Sombo Federation receiving this award they are John
Clarke, Paul Sawyer, Colin Carrott and Robin Hyslop. Matthew received the award
for winning the World Bronze and putting British Sombo back on the International
Medal Chart.

So what of the future well the BSF and its member
associations have a lot planned starting in March with the All England Open to
be held in Sittingbourne. On the International scene this can be a little bit
more difficult as cost will be the big deterrent if FIAS does not support us.
European Championships will be in Milan Italy in May and the BSF Committee have
decided the team for Sombo will be the ones we took to the Worlds if they can
afford it. With regard to the Combat Sambo it is hoped that Alan Clarkin can
arrange a trials in Burnley in early April for the European, World Combat Games
and World Championships next year although all potential GB players may have to
pay there own way hence why we are to pick a team early so they have chance to
raise the money. For Sombo players the trials will be the British Open to be
held beginning of May in Bedford. There will also be the Dutch Open in March and
the Paris Tournament in May.